Muscat, Oman: Oman’s key port city of Salalah was engulfed in flames on Thursday following reported drone strikes on oil storage facilities, marking a significant escalation of hostilities spreading across the Gulf region. Video footage circulating online showed dense plumes of black smoke rising over the port.

According to Ambrey, a British maritime security firm, the strikes targeted port infrastructure, but no merchant vessels were directly damaged. Operations at Salalah’s container and general cargo terminals have been suspended, while other Omani ports continue to operate normally, Bloomberg reported, citing Inchcape Shipping Services.

As a precautionary measure, Oman has also moved all vessels out of its main oil export terminal at Mina Al Fahal, situated near Muscat and outside the Strait of Hormuz. That terminal handles around one million barrels of Omani crude daily, according to energy intelligence provider Kpler.

The strike in Salalah appears to form part of a pattern of Iranian-backed attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, believed to be in retaliation for ongoing U.S. and Israeli military actions against Tehran and its regional allies.

March 11, 2026

Omani Response

Following the incident, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said spoke by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, conveying his “strong condemnation” of the attack on Omani territory. The Sultan reaffirmed Oman’s neutral stance in the conflict and underscored that the country would take “all necessary steps” to ensure its security and stability.

The strikes come just days after Sultan Haitham had extended formal congratulations to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment as Iran’s new supreme leader, the Times of Israel reported, citing Oman’s official news agency.

Broader Regional Impact

The attack coincides with a rapidly worsening U.S.-Israel war with Iran, now in its eleventh day. Washington has announced a release of 172 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves as part of a global effort to stabilize prices.

With nearly 20% of the world’s oil typically passing through the Strait of Hormuz, disruptions have already pushed up the prices of crude, gas, and refined fuels, driving fears of renewed global inflationary pressure.

Oman’s mediation efforts to defuse the crisis between Tehran and Washington have reportedly collapsed, as hostilities expand throughout the region. Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) confirmed that three commercial vessels near the strait were struck by unidentified projectiles, according to Al Jazeera.